FAST FACTS:
Councilman request independent audit of state funds to rape crisis center
Memphis Sexual Assault Resource Center has budget and hiring issues
Mayor Herenton's administration set to address issues before council on Tuesday
(Memphis 05/14/2009) - A Memphis city council member request an independent audit into money at the city's rape crisis center. The request comes after a discrepancy shows hundreds of thousands of dollars missing from the Memphis Sexual Assault Resource Center. It's just the latest in a series of recent problems for the center.
The MSRAC once considered a gold star facility is now at the center of yet another controversy. The state pays for the kits to collect evidence from victims so the victim's don't have to pay out of their pocket. However, there's a $400,000 discrepancy and some city council members want to know why.
"I want this explained. Why the amount of money the state says they send and the amount of money the city says we received, I want someone to make those numbers match," said Shea Flinn, Memphis City Council.
In a letter sent today to Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton Councilman Jim Strickland says state records show they reimbursed the sexual assault center $538,200. The city says it charged only $100,000 for services, so far. It's only forecasted to collect another $81,000. Strickland wants "an independent auditor to review the handling and reporting of these state funds." Flinn does too.
Flinn said, "I'm assuming there's a rational explanation for it and I look forward to hearing that because if there isn't, it calls into question every number in that budget book."
The budget questions come as those appointed by Mayor Herenton to oversee the center are under fire for not properly staffing it. That delayed testing to some victims for days. Prosecutors say this could hinder bringing attackers to justice.
Flinn said, "These are vunerable members of our society that are in their worst, one of their worst days of their life and we have to do better than to make it even worse."
WREG News Channel 3 sent a long list of questions to Mayor Herenton's assistant. She told us on Tuesday the administration is going before the city council to address hiring, budget and general operations of the Memphis Sexual Assault Resource Center.
Councilman request independent audit of state funds to rape crisis center
Memphis Sexual Assault Resource Center has budget and hiring issues
Mayor Herenton's administration set to address issues before council on Tuesday
(Memphis 05/14/2009) - A Memphis city council member request an independent audit into money at the city's rape crisis center. The request comes after a discrepancy shows hundreds of thousands of dollars missing from the Memphis Sexual Assault Resource Center. It's just the latest in a series of recent problems for the center.
The MSRAC once considered a gold star facility is now at the center of yet another controversy. The state pays for the kits to collect evidence from victims so the victim's don't have to pay out of their pocket. However, there's a $400,000 discrepancy and some city council members want to know why.
"I want this explained. Why the amount of money the state says they send and the amount of money the city says we received, I want someone to make those numbers match," said Shea Flinn, Memphis City Council.
In a letter sent today to Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton Councilman Jim Strickland says state records show they reimbursed the sexual assault center $538,200. The city says it charged only $100,000 for services, so far. It's only forecasted to collect another $81,000. Strickland wants "an independent auditor to review the handling and reporting of these state funds." Flinn does too.
Flinn said, "I'm assuming there's a rational explanation for it and I look forward to hearing that because if there isn't, it calls into question every number in that budget book."
The budget questions come as those appointed by Mayor Herenton to oversee the center are under fire for not properly staffing it. That delayed testing to some victims for days. Prosecutors say this could hinder bringing attackers to justice.
Flinn said, "These are vunerable members of our society that are in their worst, one of their worst days of their life and we have to do better than to make it even worse."
WREG News Channel 3 sent a long list of questions to Mayor Herenton's assistant. She told us on Tuesday the administration is going before the city council to address hiring, budget and general operations of the Memphis Sexual Assault Resource Center.
